College & Research Libraries (C&RL) is the official, bi-monthly, online-only scholarly research journal ofthe Association of College & Research Libraries, a division of the American Library Association.

A Multi-Level Approach for Library Value Assessment

David Schwieder, Lisa Janicke Hinchliffe

Abstract

As the volume of academic library value research has continued to increase, the resulting literature has grown complex and sprawling. This article takes stock of this body of work, using a review of the published research literature and an analysis of its organization and structure. This investigation reveals that the research on library value follows a “levels of analysis” framework, with three types of studies—small group, single institution, and multi-institution— comprising the major dimensions. We discuss the strengths and weaknesses of studies at each level, and propose a multi-level framework designed to improve the practical utility and scholarly rigor of academic library value assessment.